On 8th  March, 2015 I was returning back to home after giving exams. On the way back, I saw a crowd in the ward office. My eyes directed to the banner that was written in Nepali language. I came to know, they were gathered for celebration of 105th International Women's Day. More surprisingly I could see that there was a song competition. Can you guess what the theme was?? Well, very delighted to say that the theme for the competition was Environment Friendly Local Governance. I quickly ran to my home and shared this happy news with my mother and sister in law. I encouraged them to join the program. We then quickly moved towards the program venue, even my very young little sister asked to join us in the program.

                         The celebration was organized by Chitrawan Municipality Women's Network. This is a recently announced municipality in Chitwan District of Nepal, where I am living now. Women's group dressed beautifully in their own cultural dresses looked gorgeous. The chief guests were two ladies, members of Constitutional Assembly of Nepal. Distinguished guests included different social workers, women activist, scholars from local to National level etc. There were six teams participating in the competition. They had composed the song by themselves, played local musical instruments and some team members danced while others were singing. Their songs were solution based to the increasing problem. They highlighted women's role in environmental conservation and focused mainly on waste segregation at household level, composting the degradable, planting trees along the sides of the road, lesser use of plastic bags etc. They appealed through their songs for supporting the environmental friendly governance. Wow, they songs were so innovative, informative, appealing and melodious at the same time. Distinguished guests expressed their gratitude to such talents and responsible women in the village which has recently been municipality.

                        The organizer sister (who knew me very well) saw me attending the celebration as well. So, I was given opportunity to express my views from youth's group. I felt blessed to share my happiness among those curious and optimistic audience. I expressed my thanks to women's group for celebrating Women's day considering such a deep and serious issue.  I gave them some highlights about the vulnerability of our country in terms of pressing environmental issue like climate change. I added, women are the only one who can bring change if they will. We learn our manners and behaviors from our mother mostly so ,in order to conceive next generation of responsible mankind it is very important that women take participation is serious and important issues of country. I requested them to apply the lyrics of the songs practically too as the future of environment lies in our hand and vice versa is equally true. One of the main guests, Mr. Bel Bahadur Gurung who is the chairman of Private Boarding's Association of Chitwan District,  Nepal even thanked me during his speech for my passion and involvement for environment.

            Overall, it is a matter of pride to say that even the hardly educated women in my municipality are so sincere towards environmental conservation. I am sure they will have significant contribution if they are provided with proper guidelines and encouragement. In this way, I got opportunity to celebrate International women's day surprisingly despite my exams. But trust me the time I spent in the celebration was noteworthy.